Tile-making machine



Nov. 2 1926.

E. J. HYSELL ET AL.

TILE MAKING MACHINE Filed ma 29. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2

- v E. J. HYSELL El AL TILE MAKING- MACHINE- Filed May 29. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 2 1926. 1,605,237 E. J. HYSELL E! m.

TILE MAKING MACHINE Filed- May 29. 1925 a Sheets-Shoot a.

25 Fig. 3;

Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATESOPATENT OFFICE]- reams? EUGENE J'. HYSELL AND. CLEASON C. CARTER; F OHILLICO'I I-IE, OHIO, ASSIGYN'ORS TO BUCKEYE TILE COMPANY, OF OHILLICOTI-IE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TILETMAKTNG MACHINE.

Application filed May 29, 1925. Serial No. 33,728.

I One of theprincipal objects of the present invention is to provide such a press with means for receiving the tiles after they hav-e been formed by the press and for automatically brushing the surface of the tiles.

Another object is to provide a tile receiv ing and brushing means as. an attachment for a tile press. I

Other objects and advantages of' the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a tile press embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of' Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevational View of the tile receiving and'brushifng apparatus; I

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tile receiving and brushing apparatus, looking in the direction indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 5 is a detail view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tile receiving table; and

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 aresomewhat diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the present invention.

The present invention is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, but as herein having a press frame consisting of a bed member 21, a top frame 22 and side frame members 23. The press frame carries a plunger 24 which is adapted to move verti cally between the side frame members or guides 23 so as to approach or rececle from the bed member 21. The press is provided with a drive shaft 25 having frictional driving discs 26 mounted thereon which discs are adapted tobe brought into frictional engagement with the driven friction disc 27.

illustrated it is applied to a tile press 20' inay be actuated from any suitable source of power. '1

l The press isprovided with suitabledies for formingthe ceramic tilesor mosaics from a clay mixture. The dies herein-illustrated consist of a lower die plate 3O rigidly secured to thebed member 21, and upper die plate 31 securedto and movable with the plate having a large number of apertures 33 therethrough, these apertures being in the outline of the tiles which the dies are designed to produce. Such aperturesare generally of square hexagonal or other outline, and when the apertures are no greater.

in'diameter than one inch then a single die ring or plate may contain as many as ten rows of twelve apertures each, so that one hundred and twenty tiles may be pressed or formed at one operation. Of course it will be understood that the number of tiles herein mentioned is merely illustrative, and that the number that may be formed in a single operation may be varied greatly depending. upon the intended size of the tiles and the dimensions of the press and of the die ring. Thelower and the upper die plates are provided with plungers'34 and 35 respectively of the same size and shape as the apertures 33 of the die ring, which plungers are adapted'to be receivedon such apertures.- Normally the die ring 32 slides up and down upon the plungers 34, of the stationary plate 30, the die ring being actuated by lifting rods 36 which are connected to suitable driving mechanism forming part of the press and which mechanism need not be herein illustrated. Y

One step in the production of tiles is illustrated in Fig. 10, the die ring 32 having been lifted by the lift rods 36, and the apertures having been filled with clay to the level of the upper surface of the die ring. The neXt step is to compress the clay into tiles as illustrated in Fig. 7 after which the die ring 32 is lowered so that its upper surface is level with the top surface of the plungers 34, as shown in Fig. 8. The tiles 38 may now be removed from thedies by sliding them on to a receiving table or otherreceiving means 44, after which the die ring 32 is again raised to receive clay, as illustrated in Fig. 9.-

For the purpose of filling the dies with clay, the tile press is preferably provided with a filler-box 40 which is open botlrat top and bottom and which rests upon the filler-box platform l1 rigidly secured, by means of brackets 42 upon the die ring 32 as best illustrated in 2. The filler-boil being filled with a suitable clay composition preferably in the form of a powder, the box may be slid over the die ring when the upper die plate is raised, thereby causing the clay to fill the apertures of the die ring as shown in Fig. 9'. Upon withdrawing the filler-box to the position shown in Fig. 19, the apertures of'the die ring will be fillet with clay to the proper level. The lillenbox may be provided with a scraper 43 for scraping the upper surface of the die ring and leveling off the clay in the apertures as the filler-box is withdrawn. In moving the filler-box forwardly over the die ring the scraper 1-3 serves to push the tiles 88 on to the receiving table at. The front face of the scraper i3 is preferably covered with felt or a cushion material t5'to prevent the scraper from chipping the soft tiles as they are being pushed on to the receiving table The receiving table at is rigidly secured to the press frame on the side of the press opposite the filler-box platform 41, and comprises longitudinal and transverse frame members 50 and 51 respectively. Certain of the transverse bars 51 are provided with grooves to receive the bars 52 which form a grating or table top to receive the tiles as they come from the tile press, this construction being best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6. Certain of the bars are elevated as indicated at 53 and form guides to maintain thetiles in rows as they move over the top of the receiving table. The receiving table is secured at its inner end tothe upright supports 55 and its outer end is additionally secured to the press frame by means of the brackets 56. The connection between the receiving table and the supports 55, as well as the connection of the brackets 56 with the press frame is such as to permit vertical adjustment of the height of the receiving table to conform with the height of the fixed die member. It is to be observed in this connection that the top surface of the bars 52 which receive the tiles directly from the press is even with the top surface of the die ring 32 and the top surface of the piungers 34: on lower die plate 30 when the die ring is lowered, as illustrated in Fig. 8. This onables the tiles to be pushed or slid directly from the press on to the bars 52 of the receivin table, and since these bars are disposed in the direction of movement of the tiles, they offer very little frictional resist ance to the'movement of the tiles. An adprevent particles of clay adhering to the bars, but instead, the bars are kept clean and smooth thereby offering little resistance to the movement of the tiles. Further, the construction described permits all loose particles of clay which may be brushed off of the tiles or which may'fall ed, to drop through the spaces between the bars 52. The form of receiving table described may be termed a self-cleaning table, loose particles of clay being disposed of by dropping throue h the platform, and the clay tiles themselves maintaining the surface of the table in smooth and serviceable condition.

Ab vethe receiving platform is a brush 58 which is mounted to reciprou to parallel with the surface of the receiving table and in a direction transverse to the movement 'of the tiles so as to brush the upper surfaces thereof. The brush is mounted upon a bracket 59 secured to and extending forwardly from bar 60, which bar longitudinally slidable upon the supporting bar 61. Supporting bar 61 is carried by the upright supports The bar (30 and the brush 58 carried thereby may be reciprocated from a moving part of the press or by any other suitable means. The press herein shown is provided with a rod 62 which reciprocates continuously, and the brush may be actuated from this bar through file medium of a bell crank lever (32,- pivoted upon a bracket 64-, and having suitable pinand-slot connections with the reciprocating bar 62 and with the bar 60, as shown in Fig. 1.

The connection between the brush and its bracket 59 is preferably adjustable as at 65 to permit the brush to be raised or lowered with reference to the receiving table in accordance with the thickness of the tile received from the press. it being understood that although the clay forming the tile has been compressed under suitable pressure, yet the tile in its unbaked condition is relatively soft and the surface thereof may be easily scratched if the pressure of the brush is too great, or the corners of the tiles may be readily chipped for the same reason. The adjustment G6 is also m'ovided in order to vary the distance of the brush 58 from the press. Giving to the length of the brush supporting arm 59 and the distance of the brush from the press, guide bars 6'? and (38 are prei'ierably secured to the upright sup- 10, it isapparent that when the filler-box 4-0 is moved over the dies, the tiles resulting .from the next preceding operation of the press are pushed by the filler-box on to the receiving platform where they are subject to the brushing action of the reciprocating brush 58. After theneXt operation of the press the filler-box pushes a new lot of tiles on to the receiving table, forcing thetiles already on the receiving table to be moved farther from the press. As best shownfin Figs. 2 and 6 the receiving table is provided with a portion beyond the brush 58, this extendedportion' being adapted to receive a pallet or plate'70, the. pallet being also preferably provided with guides in exten sion of the guides 53, so as to maintain the tiles in alignment upon the pallet as they are forced from thereceiving table on to the pallet. The receiving table has an adjustable side member 71 which functions as an -abutment' to properly position the pallet upon the receiving table to receive the tiles coming from the brushing portion of the receiving table. The guides 58 of the receiving table perform the important function, in

addition to maintaining the tiles in alignanentfof preventing the tiles upon the table from being knocked against one another while they are being brushed or from being brushed off of the table. It will be under small tiles, they may be easily shifted about by the brush, and if such shifting is not prevented, the fragile tiles may be very easily damaged as by having their corners chipped off, or by the tilting, cocking or piling up" of the tiles. The bars 52 and 53 of the receiving platform are preferably removably mounted in'the transverse members 51 so that the spacing of the guide bars 53 may be varied to suit'tiles of different dimensions coming from the press.

The mounting of the brush 58 at a fixed distance from the receiving table and the automatic actuation thereof, has the advantage that the brush bears upon the surface of the tiles 38 with a uniform pressure which may be so regulated as to thoroughly brush the top surface of the tiles and yet not bear upon the tiles with such pressure as to scratch them.

The: arrangement of a fixed receiving table which receives the tiles from the press and supports them while they are being brushed overcomes a disadvantage of prior arrangements in which the pallet is held directly against the die plate 3E2, in that, when the tiles are once safely upon the receiving table, they are not likely to be jostled about or thrown upon the floor, such incident-s occurring frequently with prior apparatus when the' operator holds the pallet too long against the die ring'32 and the latter'is suddenly raised by the press mechanism. Such unexpected movement of the pallet by'reason of the operator holding it for too long a time against the die ring 32, often results in some of the tiles being thrown backinto' the press, thus spoiling the tiles about to be formed by the next operation of the press. Sometimes i the operator inthe attempt to save the tile would attempt to rescue the tile thrown back into the press and have his hand caught in the, dies.

Such disadvantages as well as others which are present in prior devices are overcome by the stationary receiving table; Another advantage of the stationary receiving table is that it forms a stationary support for the pallet by which the tiles, after brushing, are automatically transferredt'o the pallet in an orderly manner. And when it is desired to transfer the tiles from the pallet to a suitable receptacle forthe next operation, which may be baking the" tiles, such tiles' may .be readily transferred from the pallet to the receptacle in an' orderly manner, the layers of tile being placed upon one another to form stacks of tiles, without extra handling of the tiles and consequently danger of chipping or marrl'ng them. r

-: By the use of the present-invention itis possible to reduce the number of operators required to operate the press, to increase the output of the machine several times its original volume, to improve the quality of the work, to reduce loss resulting from chipping of the tiles, rejection due to scratched surfaces, and loss from tiles falling to the floor or back into the press, and at the same time a safety factor is provided in that the operator receiving the tiles is removed from direct contact with moving parts of the press or dies. Further, tiles produced in accordance with the present invention are more nearly perfect and more uniform than hand-brushed tiles, have sharp and smooth edges, and are generally better of appearance, all of which increases the market value of the tiles. o

While the form'of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

hat is claimed is:

1. A ceramic tile press comprising, a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated withthe pressand adapted to receive the tiles thereon, means &

tiles, a table at a fixed elevation to receive the tiles thereon, means for brushing the tiles on the table, and means for retaining the tiles in position during brushingand means for adjusting said means to receive tiles of varying thicknesses from the press.

4:. A ceramic tile press comprising, a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table positioned to receive the formed tiles thereon. associated means for brushing the formed tiles, and means for restraining the tiles against displacement during brushing.

5. A ceramic tile press comprising a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated with he press and adapted to receive the tiles thereon. and 0s cillatory means for automatically brushing the tiles on the table.

6. A ceramic tile press comprising a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, :1 table associated with the press and adapted to receive the formed tiles thereon,

means for automatically brushing the tiles,

and means for retaining the tiles in position during brushing.

7. A ceramic tile press comprising a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated with the press and adapted to receive the tiles thereon, reciprocating means for brushing the tiles on the table and means for retaining the tiles in position during brushing.

8. A ceramic tile press comprising press frame means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated with the press and adapted to receive the tiles thereon, means for automatically brushing the tiles on the table, and means for retaining the tiles in position during brushing, said brushing means being operated from moving parts of the press.

9. A ceramic tile press comprising a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated with the press and adapted to receive the tiles thereon, means for automatically pushing the tiles on the table, means for brushing the tile upon the table, said brushing means being mounted to move in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the tiles coming from the press, and means for retaining the tiles in position upon the table.

10. A-ceramic tile press comprising a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated with the press and adapted to receive the tiles thereon, means for automatically pushing the tiles on the table, means for brushing the tile upon the table said means being spaced from the table and adapted to move in a plane substantially parallel with the surface of the table, and means for retaining the tiles upon the table during brushing.

11. A ceramic tile press comprising a press frame, means for compressing clay to form tiles, a table associated with the press and adapted to receive the tiles thereon, means for automatically pushing the tiles on the table, means for brushing the tile upon the table said means being spaced from the table and adapted'to move in a plane sul stantially parallel with the surface of the table, means for retaining the tiles upon the table during brushing, and means for varying the distance between the table and the brushing means whereby to receive tiles of varying thicknesses.

12. A ceramic press adapted for forming tiles comprising a press frame, upper and lower die members, a movable die ring, and a filler box platform secured to the die ring for movement therewith.

13. A ceramic press adapted for forming tiles comprising a press frame, a lower fixed die member, an upper movable die member, a die ring cooperating with said die members and mounted for up and down movement. and a filler-box platform having one edge at the level of the top surface of the die ring and mounted for up and down movement therewith.

14. A ceramic press adapted for forming tiles comprising a press frame, a lower fixed die member, an upper die member, a movable die ring cooperating with said die members, and a stationary receiving table having one edge at the level of the top surface of the fixed die member.

15. A ceramic press adapted for forming tiles comprising a press frame, a lower fixed die member, an upper movable die member, a die ring cooperating with said die members and mounted for up and down move ment, a filler-box platform having one edge at the level of the top surface of the die ring and mounted for up and down movement therewith, and a stationary receiving table having one edge at the level of the top surface of the fixed die member.

16. In a tile press, for compressing clay into tiles, a receiving table adapted to receive tiles, said receiving table comprising a brushing portion upon which the tiles are adapted to be brushed and having means for retaining the tiles in position while they are being brushed, and a pallet plate adapted to said platform having openings for carrying off surplus clay particles.

19. In a ceramic tile press adapted to compress clay into tiles, a platform adapted-to receive tiles thereon, said platform comprising a grating adapted to support the tiles, and guide means for retaining the tiles in row upon the platform.

In testimony whereof We hereto affix our signatures.

EUGENE J. HYSELL. CLEASON o. CARTER. 

